CDC Recommending Additional Covid-19 Vaccine for Those Over 65

New Guidance From CDC on Vaccines for the Elderly Arund 98% of the US population has some kind of immunity to Covid-19, whether from infection, vaccination, or both, according to the CDC. But health experts say this only gives some protection against infection or severe disease. In response, the CDC this week recommended people age 65 and older should get an additional dose of the current…

68-Year-Old Man Now in HIV Remission

Paul Edmonds (photo: City of Hope) (NiceNews.com) -- When Paul Edmonds learned he had AIDS in 1988, he viewed it as a death sentence. But therapies helped him take control of the illness for more than three decades — and now he’s in full-blown remission, all thanks to a cancer diagnosis.Blood cancers are common in older HIV patients, according to the cancer center City of Hope, where…

WSJ: DOJ launches an antitrust probe into UnitedHealth Group

(Yahoo Finance - Seana Smith, Brad Smith) --  Department of Justice (DOJ) officials have launched an antitrust probe into the relationship between UnitedHealth Group's (UNH) insurance division and its Optum health services segment, according to Wall Street Journal reporting. Yahoo Finance Health Reporter Anjalee Khemlani breaks down the details, highlighting the other challenges…

2024 NCMS Candidate Series – Ralph Carter, MD

2024 NCMS Candidate Series Featuring Dr. Ralph Carter   The 2024 North Carolina Medical Society Candidate Series has an exclusive interview featuring Dr. Ralph Carter, who is running for North Carolina House District 48. In this episode, Dr. Carter outlines what motivated him to run for office and his most important legislative issues. He is passionate about bringing jobs to his…

NC/Medical Acronyms

The medical field is littered with acronyms, often leaving many of us scratching our heads as to their meaning. We have gathered a helpful list of some of the most common acronyms relevant to healthcare in North Carolina and medicine in general. Have an acronym that you'd like to add to this list? Email Kristen Shipherd with that information, and we'll update this resource. AAMSE…

Eight ECU Brody School of Medicine Students Named to FCLC

left to right Noor Baloch, Nolan Davis, Michael Denning, Charles Johnson, Hannah Rayala, Emmalee Todd, Ben Wise and Michael Wright (photo: ECU) (ECU News Service) --  Noor Baloch, Nolan Davis, Michael Denning, Charles Johnson, Hannah Rayala, Emmalee Todd, Ben Wise and Michael Wright will join students from other colleges and universities across the state who are interested in leadership and…

Happy Birthday to Our Members Celebrating This Month!

Grab your party hats and noisemakers and let’s celebrate!   Robert B. Abrahams, DO Yousef S. Abumostafa, MD Stephen J. Acosta, MD Jeffery A. Adams, MD Mia R. Adkins, MD Mamatha Agrawal, MD Mahmood G. Aijazi, MD Lysle K. Ailstock, MD Raul C. Aizcorbe, MD Muhammad S. Alam, MD Kira M. Alatar, MD Kyle A. Alexander, MD Kimberly A. Alford, MD Hassan Alhosaini, MD David J.…

NCMB: Telephone Scams Targeting Licensees Still Active in NC

  The North Carolina Medical Board continues to hear from licensees and healthcare employers that physicians and PAs are being targeted by scammers. The caller or callers may claim to be a medical board investigator and may even use technology to make it appear that they are calling you from the actual number of the North Carolina Medical Board. Licensees are told that their license will…

New Duke Health Research Could Help Reduce Racial Disparities in Kidney Disease

DURHAM, N.C. – In a finding that could help reduce the racial disparity in kidney disease, Duke Health researchers have detailed how two common gene variants among African Americans can cause kidney failure. Opeyemi Olabisi, MD (image credit: Duke) The finding, reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could point to new treatment approaches and advance investigational therapies…

NCMS Regional Event in Charlotte Draws Enthusiastic Crowd

The North Carolina Medical Society is on the road again! NCMS members, guests, and friends joined together in Charlotte Wednesday to enjoy some time together and learn more about the Society's mission. CEO Chip Baggett spoke on how NCMS is advocating on issues important to members like reforming Prior Authorization.  He also talked about the NCMS strategic priorities of relieving your…

Newborn Genetic Screening Study Reaches New Milestone

Cynthia Powell, MD (image credit: UNC)   Jennifer Law, MD (image credit: UNC) CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Early Check, a groundbreaking research study that provides free health tests to newborns up to four weeks old in North Carolina, announced that it has screened 1,000 newborns in the state under its genome sequencing study. The study, launched in September of 2023, screens newborns…

In Memoriam: NCMS Life Member Eugene Bozymski, MD

NCMS Life member Dr. Eugene Bozymski died Thursday, February 15. He was 88. Bozymski graduated from John Carroll University and Marquette School of Medicine in a remarkable six years. He trained at Scripps Mercy in San Diego and returned to the Medical College of Wisconsin for his three-year residency as he began his over 50-year career as a gastroenterologist. A fellowship at UNC School of…

Register Now! NC Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Society Annual Meeting is May 18-19

    Download the meeting agenda. Online Regsitration. Accommodations: Be sure to reserve your room at the Crabtree Valley Marriott before Thursday, April 25 to get our discounted rate of  $159. Use this link to book today! Exhibiting Opportunities: Help ensure a successful meeting by sharing the exhibitor prospectus with the product and service representatives who…

Primary Care in Crisis! New Report From The Physicians Foundation

Scorecard Highlights State-Level Primary Care Performance & Lack of Physician Training in Underserved Communities   The second national Primary Care Scorecard released today reveals an intensifying primary care crisis and identifies five reasons why access to affordable, quality primary care services is expected to get worse. Developed by researchers at the American Academy of…

Looking for Help? Asthma Medication Now Approved to Help Some Food Allergies

  Xolair, the brand name for the drug omalizumab, is first medication approved to reduce allergic reactions caused by accidental exposure to food triggers (The Hill, WGN) -- For decades, asthma patients have used a drug to help them breathe better. Now, the Food and Drug Administration has given the nod to use that drug to reduce serious reactions from food allergies. Xolair, the brand…

Meet Your Legislator: Senator Lisa Barnes

Senator Lisa Barnes (image credit: NCGA)   Your NCMS Advocacy team has a meeting scheduled with Senator Lisa Barnes on March 7th at 11:30am in Raleigh. If you are a constituent of Senator Barnes and interested in attending, please email Hannah Rice at [email protected] for details. Senator Barnes represents Franklin, Nash, and Vance counties.

UNC Scientists Create New Drug Delivery System

Wireless Drug Patch Shows Promise as Chronic Disease Treatment Delivery System The Spatiotemporal On-Demand Patch’s exposed circuit will be covered by material resembling a Band-Aid. It can receive commands wirelessly from a smartphone or computer to schedule and trigger the release of drugs from individual microneedles.   Led by Juan Song, PhD, at the UNC School of Medicine, and…

2024 Health of US Primary Care Scorecard Webinar is Wednesday

  Primary care is the foundation of our health care system. Yet more and more people report not having a regular place for care. In the forthcoming second annual Primary Care Scorecard, Robert Graham Center researchers give five reasons why access to primary care is worsening.   Join the Milbank Memorial Fund and The Physicians Foundation on February 28, at 12 p.m. ET, for a…

Want To Go To Medical School for Free? Here Is A Billion Ways It Is Now Possible

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine just received one of the largest ever charitable gifts to an educational institution in the United States. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Albert Einstein College of Medicine to offer free tuition after billion-dollar gift (CNN) --  Students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York will receive free tuition after a $1 billion dollar…

Warning for Clinicians in Charlotte Region

 Since February 2023, two cases of invasive meningococcal disease have been found to be resistant to ciprofloxacin and penicillin in residents of Mecklenburg County   A message from Erica Wilson, MD, MPH, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Sources The North Carolina Division of Public Health (NC DPH) is alerting clinicians in North Carolina to an increase in…

Bad News: Your Binge of Yellowstone Likely Means You’ll Be In the Bathroom A Lot Tonight

The researchers say increasing public awareness of the potential health risk may encourage people to be more mindful of their TV time.   Binge watchers more likely to need multiple night-time bathroom breaks (The Guardian) -- Sitting down to binge watch the latest TV drama might seem like the perfect way to unwind, but researchers have found that people who spend lengthy periods in…

On Point: Alabama Supreme Court Ruling That Disrupts Healthcare For People Building Families is Unconscionable — Dr. Amy Bryant

On Point submissions are individual member viewpoints and not North Carolina Medical Society policy. Amy Bryant MDMSCR, At Large Member of the Executive Committee, NCOGS   Not even a week after the Alabama Supreme Court gave unprecedented and medically unnecessary protections to frozen embryos, several IVF clinics in the state had already halted services, afraid in this dangerous new…

New Mesothelioma Therapy Offers Hope for Highly Fatal Cancer

Medicine used alongside chemotherapy in trials quadrupled three-year survival rates for mesothelioma Scientists have reached a breakthrough in the treatment of mesothelioma, a rare and highly deadly form of cancer that’s linked to asbestos exposure. According to a study published last week, the innovative therapy, which combines a new drug with chemotherapy, increased the median survival of…

New Study: VR Can Enhance Relationship Between Caregivers and Aging Population

  Research conducted by Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab in collaboration with Mynd Immersive and AT&T 5G Healthcare (PRNewswire) -- Virtual Reality (VR) technology is not just for the young. It's paving the way for enhancing relationships between the aging population and their caregivers, as research from the Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL) at Stanford…

NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley Unifies Department’s Collaborative Efforts

  NCDHHS Wants to Ensure NC Communities and Families Are Center of Department Work   https://youtu.be/qPW4Qk6iqzU?si=TrWZm30fZ2zty4_9 The NCDHHS launched a Community Partner Engagement Plan and website to ensure the voices of North Carolina communities and families are at the center of the department’s work. Go to ncdhhs.gov/GetInvolved to see the many groups, organizations and…

North Carolina Stepping Onto National Stage as Biotech Skyrockets in Triangle

  Nation's Oldest Biotech Hubs Looking at NC as One of Their Biggest Rivals (Axios - Zachery Eanes) -- In less than a decade, the Triangle's biotech industry has more than doubled its lab space and added tens of thousands of new workers, as the region's profile among investors and companies soars. The big picture: Some of the nation's oldest biotech hubs, like Boston, now see the…

Webinar Opportunity! Next-Generation Genomic Sequencing

Two Webinars Offered by Southern Regional AHEC with Duke University Southern Regional AHEC, in partnership with Duke University, is hosting a live webinar highlighting rare genetic diagnoses titled “Next-generation Genomic Sequencing for Rare Genetic Diagnoses: Engagement with Community Health Providers." Program Description For this interactive educational program, the objectives are…

Match Day is Coming Soon. Are You Ready?

Match Madness is March 15 (AMA, Brendan Murphy) -- For many medical students, creating a Match rank-order list is about balancing competing priorities and funneling advice—solicited and unsolicited—from faculty members, peers and resident physicians. That was the case for Haidn Foster, MD, when he was considering his options for the Match as a fourth-year…

As Nation Grapples with Alabama Decision on Embryos, An NCMS Member Speaks Out

Alabama Says Embryos in a Lab Are Children. What Are the Implications? Scroll down for response from NCMS Member Dr. Amy Bryant (NYT, Jan Hoffman) --  The Alabama Supreme Court has opened a new front in the legal debate over when human life begins. Embryos created and stored in a medical facility must be considered children under the state’s law governing harmful death, the court ruled.…

NCMS Political Pulse Introduces New VP of Advocacy John Thompson, SC Primary Results

Political Pulse is back!   As we wait for the legislative session to begin in April, the North Carolina Medical Society Political Pulse is kicking things off by getting to know our new Vice President of Advocacy, John Thompson.  From his long professional career to his family and a very unique hobby, John is ready to share with you how he intends to make big changes at the NCMS this year. The…

Join CMS for the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model Overview Webinar

IBH Model Overview Webinar Thursday, February 29 2 - 3:30pm ET The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a webinar on Thursday, February 29, to provide an overview of the Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model. During this webinar, the IBH Team will discuss the model’s goals, eligibility, participant types, care delivery framework, and payment structure. The…

First Comprehensive Evidence-Based Guideline on Use of Fecal Microbiota-Based Therapies

Anne Peery, MD (image credit: UNC School of Medicine) For use in patients with recurrent CDI at high risk of recurrence The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released the first comprehensive evidence-based guideline on the use of fecal microbiota-based therapies for gastrointestinal disease, recommending fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in most cases of recurrent…

Reminder: Missed Opportunities for Preventing Congenital Syphilis Webinar is Wednesday

  Missed Opportunities for Preventing Congenital Syphilis Wednesday, February 28 Noon-1:00 p.m. ET   Join the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) in collaboration with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention for a on Congenital syphilis webinar developed for clinicians and other health care providers. This…

New CMS Vaccine Coverage and Payment Toolkit Offers Helpful Guidance

Understand federally funded Vaccines for Children program This new CMS toolkit, Coverage and Payment of Vaccines and Vaccine Administration under Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program (PDF), can help to understand coverage, cost-sharing, and payment for vaccines and vaccine administration. The toolkit addresses the federally funded Vaccines for Children…

NC Medicaid: Reimbursement Changes to Popular Syphilis Treatment

  As part of a larger effort to address rising rates of syphilis, including congenital syphilis, rates for Bicillin® L-A, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Code J0561, increased as part of the recent changes NC Medicaid made to the Physician Administered Drug Program (PADP) fee schedule. This applies to NC Medicaid Managed Care and NC Medicaid Direct. The rate for…

NC University Launches New Eye and Vision Research Center

  Wake Forest University School of Medicine has launched a new Translational Eye and Vision Research Center. Leaders envision the center serving as a visionary hub that will redefine the landscape of eye and vision research. "The launch of the Translational Eye and Vision Research Center represents a profound commitment to advancing our understanding of vision and eye diseases,” said…

Nominations Open for NCMS Foundation Board of Trustees

The NCMS Foundation Board Development Committee Submits:   Call for Nominations: NCMS Foundation Board of Trustees Overview Overview The call for nominations for individuals to serve on the NCMS Foundation Board of Trustees is now open. Nominations are due by May 31, 2024 (view NCMS Foundation Candidate Application Form here). The North Carolina Medical Society Foundation (NCMSF)…

‘Beyond the Pink Runway’ Fundraiser Coming to Charlotte

Sandra Levine Theatre, Sarah Belk Gambrell Center 319 Wellesley Ave Charlotte, NC 28207 March 2, 2024 6:30 p.m.   Atrium Health Levine Center cordially invites you to an event benefiting research, education, and support programs for the Sandra Levine Young Women's Breast Cancer Program. The “Beyond the Pink Runway” event will be held Saturday, March 2 at the Sandra Levine Theater…

NCDHHS Launches New Statewide Peer Support Line

  Help with support and resources for those in crisis   On February 20, The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched a new Statewide Peer Warmline. The Peer Warmline is a phone line staffed by Peer Support Specialists who offer non-clinical support and resources to those in crisis. Specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new Peer…

NC Mobile Health Unit Providing Easier Access to Quality Healthcare

"We see everyone regardless of their ability to pay." Mobile health clinics can be an essential resource to those without access to quality healthcare. One such clinic, the Cone Health Mobile Medicine Unit, provides basic acute and primary care services, including patient education, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. In a recent interview, Dr. Olu Jegede, vice president…

What You Need to Know About State Health Plan Contracting

Open Enrollment begins this year   Aetna® will be the new third-party administrator for the North Carolina State Health Plan beginning January 1, 2025. Open enrollment begins in the fall of 2024, which is when members will select a primary care provider (PCP). Here are the steps you can take to get ready: Step 1: Join the Aetna Network The North Carolina State Health Plan will use…

AMA Center for Health Equity: Applicants for the Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship Needed

  The AMA Center for Health Equity seeks applicants for the Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship program’s 2024-2025 cohort. The program is administered through a partnership between the AMA and the Morehouse School of Medicine’s Satcher Health Leadership Institute. Using an anti-racist, equity-centered learning framework, fellows engage with equity experts and trailblazers. The…

Join NCMS in Charlotte for a Meeting (UN)like Your Typical Gathering!

  Real talk: Nobody actually likes meetings. UNTIL NOW! So, this is the NCMS Un-meeting! You'll probably learn a little. You'll definitely have fun! Here is what's coming at the NCMS Un-meeting: Free drinks, food and socializing A special welcome from Carolina Complete Health NCMS CEO Chip Baggett Getting to know NCMS and making new friends REGISTER NOW!…

We Want to Hear YOUR Prior Authorization Stories!

Are you frustrated with administrative headaches and how they impact your patients? Have you faced denials for a care plan within standard practice for a patient?   We want to hear your story! As NCMS continues to push for passage of HB 649 in the coming legislative session, we need to hear how you and your patients have been impacted by prior authorization. We are looking for stories…

Capitol Chronicle: NCMS Physician Leadership Take Heartfelt Message to Capitol Hill on Valentine’s Day

  The North Carolina contingent, participating in the American Medical Association’s 2024 National Advocacy Conference, delivered an urgent call for action to the offices of each North Carolina US Senate and US House representative on numerous health policy issues.  Making the trip to Washington were NCMS President Dr. Eileen Raynor, NCMS Board of Directors member Dr. Karen Smith, NCMS…

Thinking of Running? Space Available for 2024 AMPAC Candidate Workshop

Do you ever wonder how doctors get elected to Congress or your state legislature? Considering a run for office for yourself? The AMPAC Candidate Workshop will teach you how to run a winning political campaign.   2024 AMPAC Candidate Workshop will be held in-person, March 22-24 at the AMA offices in Washington, DC. The deadline to register is March 1. The Candidate Workshop is…

NC Medicaid Update: Clinical Coverage Policy for Substance Use Disorder

The 1115 Demonstration Waiver Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Medicaid withdrawal management policies have been rescheduled to promulgate on May 1, 2024. The delay in promulgation is provided to allow service providers the opportunity to align with new and amended policies and applicable licensure rule waivers. This update applies to NC Medicaid Direct and NC Medicaid Managed Care. The…

Registration Open for the 2024 Addiction Medicine Conference

If you plan to attend in person or virtually, there's a ticket for you!   The 15th annual Addiction Medicine Conference is set to take place in Asheville, on Friday, April 19th and Saturday, April 20th and is slated to be the best yet! Key Areas of Focus: Emerging drugs/drug use patterns and the associated clinical challenges Digital therapeutics Perinatal substance use…

NCDHHS Livestream Fireside Chat and Tele-Town Hall: Support Your Heart Health is Tomorrow

  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Tuesday, February 20, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how to support and improve heart health as well as prevent and manage heart disease. Panelists will discuss the following: Ways to support and improve heart health Where to find heart health resources and support…